Design on a Dime Inexpensive and Fun Ways To Transform Any Space By Olga Adler If you do not want to go for the obvious, and you like creative touches, this article is for you.  If you are on a "decorating budget" or simply like to create things, you may enjoy it as well. Today I want to give you some simple ideas for enhancing your space without breaking the bank -- by using your creativity instead. Many people love browsing through little antique and consignment stores because there is always something interesting one can ‘rescue’ and proudly display at home. Some pieces may need a little bit of TLC, but if you are trying to decorate on a budget looking for those great finds and "fixing" them is a fun experience. Here are some ideas for simple decorating projects that are fun and can instantly transform any space: What’s in this frame? A couple of years ago I was browsing through a little antique store in England and I found a piece of very old English wallpaper – I fell in love with it and immediately wanted to cover the walls in my powder room with it.  I asked the store owner about it and it turned out it was the only piece he had – much too little to serve the purpose I had in mind.  I bought it anyway and brought it home looking for some other use for it. A couple of days later it was proudly residing over the fireplace framed in an antique wooden frame I found that same day in another antique store.  It was a unique piece of art. I would do the same with any piece of beautiful wallpaper or fabric. Another idea could be to buy a book with pretty illustrations, take some of them out and frame them.  Botanical prints and historical scenes always look great with almost any décor. You made this table? If you are looking for an original coffee table, consider buying an old one with a metal base or just a base itself and installing a new top.  Some antique stores have a huge selection of metal table bases; you can also find them in ‘home and garden’ stores. Then the choice is yours – wood, stone or glass can look really good.  If you choose wood the options are countless and the look of your new table depends only on your creativity and the style you are going for.  Wood can be stained or painted literally any color you want, including faux finishes.  Want it red or turquoise?  Go for it! ‘Pucci’ pillow? Why not?  If you have a sentiment for a good scarf, love it like a piece of art but know you won’t wear it anymore, turn it into a pillow cover that is sure to get attention. From plain to a gem Last spring my husband and I were getting ready to move from Greenwich to Ridgefield and I was scrutinizing all of our possessions since I believe in ‘moving light’.  In the process, I found many things I wanted to part with but my attention caught two turned wooden candlesticks that I was sure I had never seen before -- and an idea just came into my head.  I was looking for a Victorian accent for my new bathroom, and I had just found it!  Some paint, a couple of feathers, a handful of beads and a very plain candlestick turned into a Victorian gem. Seasonal glory We are very lucky to be living in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.  Ocean in the summer, colorful leaves in the fall, winter – well, maybe not so much…  My point is that we have access to all of nature’s bounty and we can use it to decorate our homes, changing the character of displays seasonally. Shells displayed in a beautiful glass or wooden bowl will ad that fresh summer look to any bedroom or bathroom. Colorful leaves can be framed and ad ‘natural’ character to your entry or kitchen. A great way to display nature’s gifts is by using shadowbox frames and collector boxes that can hold objects that are not exactly flat.  It is always a perfect tool for displaying your kids’ crafts. Where to look for great finds and bargains: Flea markets – The Elephant’s Trunk, near Danbury, every Sunday from spring through late Fall from 7 until early afternoon.   Local antique and consignments stores – A great resource is a website called Antique Connecticut.  If you venture out, try Silver Lining, Cromlix, The King and I Antiques, Garret Antiques and Next Step Antiques in Ridgefield; Connecticut Trading Company, Wayside Exchange and Cannondale (Green Willow) Antiques in Wilton: Furniture on Consignment II in Westport; or Canal Street Antiques in Stamford If you are looking for designer-quality furniture and accessories but do not want to pay designers' prices, you may try your luck in a store that is exactly half way between a to- the-trade-only showroom and a regular retail store, with the prices of the latter and access for general public.  There are a couple of them in our area, but this one I can really recommend:  Homestyle – ‘Designer Furniture Outlet & More’ in Monroe, CT (203- 459-9600).  They sell furniture that was custom ordered by interior designers for their clients but for some reason were made not as ordered - wrong size, finish or fabric.   Those pieces are wonderful ‘mistakes’ that need to be sold.  And they are, only at dramatically reduced prices. Olga Adler is an interior designer with a design studio in Ridgefield, Connecticut.  Her company Olga Adler Interiors is dedicated to lifestyle driven design.  You can email your questions or comments to: olga@olgaadlerinteriors.com